Adhesive tape propelling mechanism



July 20, 1954 s. B. LlNDsEY ADHESIVE TAPE PROPELLING MECHANISM '2 She-ets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 4

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2 s. B, LINDsEY ADHESIVE TAPE PROPELLING MECHANISM July 20, 1954 Filed Feb. 4, 1950 Patented July 20, 1954 2,684,2440 ADHESIVE TAPE PROPELLING MEoHANisM Seth B. Lindsey, Anoka, Minn., assignor to Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company, St. Paul, Minn., a corporation of Delaware Application February 4, 1950, Serial No. 142,407

(Cl. 27h-2.3)

8 Claims.

This invention relates to mechanisms for propelling adhesive tape, particularly normally tacky and pressure-sensitive adhesive tape, and particularly mechanisms for the withdrawing of such tape from a supply and the projecting of lengths thereof into a desired position.

An objective is to provide such a mechanism or movement suitable for incorporation into a variety of types of tape handling devices, including manually operated devices, but especially automatic power driven dispensers and combined dispensers and appliers.

rlhe invention provides a movement, the principal elements of which comprise a means for the withdrawal of tape from a supply, a tape-forming and projecting Wheel having a grooved periphery and aligned to permit peripheral contact with Withdrawn tape that is led to it from the withdrawing means, and a tape-forming guide adjacent the wheel positioned to bear against the tape to direct the tape into contact with the periphery of the wheel and to depress the tape into the groove. The tape-withdrawing means may comprise at least one pull-off roller which operates by peripheral driving connection with the tape.

Such a mechanism can be employed as a tape propelling element in dispensers, sealers, packaging machines and numerous types of tape handling machines and devices, particularly where the projection of a free unsevered length of tape forwardly into an open space is required.

A pull-off roller and the wheel in such a mechanism may be rotated continuously, where a continuous supply of tape is needed, or intermittently to allow for the disposal of a projected length before further tape is advanced.

Ordinarily the roller and the wheel would be rotated simultaneously at the same peripheral speed.

If desired, however, the roller may rst be turned to withdraw a length from the supply whereupon the wheel may then be turned to project it; or the roller may be slowly turned continuously and the wheel intermittently. In such cases, it is desirable to have the roller and the wheel spaced apart sufficiently to allow for the temporary loop that would form between them, preferably with a means for tensioning the loop.

An illustrative embodiment is described below and illustrated in the attached drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a diagram of a specific form of the movement;

Figure 2 is a plan view of a tape-forming and projecting Wheel and tape-forming guide;

Figures 3 and 4 are perspective views of the right rear and of the left side, respectively, of a sealing machine;

Figures 5 and 6 are fragmentary Views, on the indicated sections, of the dispensing and applying mechanism of the machine; and

Figure 7 shows a paper folder or mailing piece that has been sealed by the machine.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a pull-ofi roller II is rotatably mounted to withdraw normally tacky pressure-sensitive adhesive tape from a supply thereof upon rotation of the roller, the roller being in peripheral driving connection with the tape by reason of the tapes temporary adherence to the periphery of the roller.

A tape-forming and projecting wheel I2 having a V-shaped groove I 3 in its periphery, is rotatably mounted in a position to have the grooved portion ofY its periphery contacted by the adhesive side of tape that is fed to it by the roller I I. The periphery of the Wheel, including the groove, is knurled.

Adjacent the wheel is a tape-forming guide in the form of a slender linger I4 extending into the groove and held in that position by a guidesupporting bar I5.

In operation, tape is rst threaded from the supply around the periphery of the pull-off roller I I and thence downwardly between the guide I4 and the groove I3 of the tape-forming and projecting wheel I2 with the adhesive side contacting the groove.

Upon rotation of the roller I I, the tape is withdrawn from the supply and fed to the wheel I2. Rotation of the wheel I2 draws the fed tape toward itself. As the tape moves toward the wheel the finger guide I4 bears or presses against the back of the tape in a manner to direct the tape into adhesive contact with the grooved portion of the periphery of the wheel I2 and to depress the tape into the groove I3. Y

The depression of the tape into the groove gives the tape a shape in cross section generally similar to the cross sectional shape of the groove,

thus rendering the tape longitudinally ridged.

the tape T is thrust out away from the wheel l2 in readiness for severing and removal. The severing may be by drawing it against a fixed knife i6.

The knurling on the periphery of the forming and projecting wheel l2 reduces the area of contact between the periphery and the adhesive side of the tape and thus makes it easier for the stiffened tape to pull itself loose from the wheel in the manner above described.

Thus the knurled area need extend only as far across the periphery as the width of the tape requires, and such partial knurling, as well as knurling across the full width of a periphery, is contemplated when using the expression knurled periphery herein.

IThe periphery of the pull-oir roller l i may also be knurled, although it is not as desirable as in the case of the projecting wheel l2 since the pull on the tape exerted by the wheel i2 may often be enough to remove the tape from its adhesive contact with the roller i i even though the periphery of the roller is smooth.

Obviously forms of knurling other than those shown in the drawings may be used.

If desired, a wheel may be rotatably mounted on the end of the nger i4. This is particularly desirable in embodiments where the back and not the tacky side of the tape contacts the periphery of the forming wheel I2. In such embodiments the knurling on the periphery of the l forming wheel i2 may sometimes be dispensed with.

The groove i3 may be other than V-shaped in cross section, long as the tape becomes formed upon being depressed therein so as to stiien it sur'iciently to enable it to free itself from the wheel and extend into a desired position.

rlape-withdrawing means other than the illustra-ted single pull-oilc roller ii may be employed as long at it operates to provide withdrawn tape in a position to be led to the wheel I2.

In the illustrated sealing machine the tape supply is in the form or" a roll R of the tape mounted on a rotatable drum 2% at the iront, the front being the side or the machine where a stack ii ot folders is held in readiness to be run through the machine and sealed. The terms right, leit, etc. herein are from the point of view of an operator facing the front of the machine.

The pull-off roller Si is fixed on the right end of a shaft 2! that is journaled into the frame of the machine, and the tape-forming and projecting wheel i2 is fixed on a similar shaft 22. Gears 23 and 265 are iixed on the left ends of the shafts and 22, respectively (Figure 4). rlhese are rotated by a larger gear 25, the three gears 23, 2li and 2d being of a size to produce rotation of the roller ii and the wheel i2 at the same peripheral speed. The peripheral speed of the roller i i is preferably the same as the peripheral speed of the bottom of the groove i3 of the wheel i2. rThe gear :25 is intermittently rotated clockwise (Figure 4) through an idler crank 26 and a ratchet by a continuously oscillating powerdriven crank 2l.

The crank 2l is oscillated by a pitman 28 and crank gear 'it which latter is continuously rotated by a motor 32 acting through a belt 33, pulley chain 35 and sprocket 36, the latter being connected with the gear 2Q by a small gear not shown.

rEhe cranks 26 and 2 both turn freely on the shaft that holds the gear 25. When impelled clockwise (Figure 4) the crank 2B turns the gear 25 clockwise by means of a ratchet (not shown). The continuously oscillating power-driven crank 2l turns the idler crank 25 clockwise during .a clockwise stroke of the crank 2l by bearing or pushing against a stud 3l that is on the crank 26. At the end or such a stroke, however, the crank 26 is in a six-oclock position and normally remains so. Thus, unless it is returned to the cocked position shown in Figure 4, the further oscillation of the crank 2l will not turn the crank 25, the gear 25 will be motionless, and no further length of tape will be dispensed. The manner of cooking the crank 26 will be hereinafter described.

Means for propelling a work piece or object to be sealed, such as a flexible folder 4S, through the machine, is provided in the form of a large vacuum pick-up feed drum 4l having a deep circumferential channel 32 in its periphery extending around the drum. The drum is positioned to permit the unsevered projected length T o tape to extend into the channel d2.

A plurality of suction apertures Q3 pierce the periphery on either side or" the channel for a portion of the drums circumference. A vacuum pump i5 continuously operated by the motor through the belt 33 and pulley 32, is connected by well known means includin T a rotary valve, not shown, to create a suction within the drum which acts through the apertures to hold the flexible mailing folder fr@ against the periphery of the drum in the manner shown in Figure 5.

The drum is continuously rotated clockwise (Figure 5) by the gear 29 which is fixed to the left end of the drum shaft 4E. The vacuum ecnnection with the drum is shut oir and on. by the rotary valve automatically as the drum rotates. The suction is normally ofi in the drum. It is turned on when the apertures are opposite a folder that is to be picked up from the stack i?. t is turned off after the sealing o1" the folder has been completed.

When a folder' is thus picked up, the apertures are covered by the folder and the vacuum is thus completed in the drum. Acting ti rough suitable connections, including the hose il?, this completion of the vacuum operates to draw up a piston in a cylinder t8, and the piston, 'being connected to the idler crank 2S, draws the latter in a counter clockwise direction and cocks it positions it as shown in Figure 4) so that the clockwise stroke of the crank 2 will operate the tape projecting mechanism in the manner hereinabove described.

if there are no folders left in the stack i' waiting to be picked up by the drum so that the apertures 43 are not covered, the vacuum is not coinpleted, the piston in the cylinder i5 is not drawn up and the crank 26 is not cocked.

Thus the vacuum within the drum il is turned on and off continuously as long as the drum continues to rotate, but the tape projecting mechanism stops and starts continuously only as long as folders continue to be fed to the drum. It no folder is presented to the drum, no further tape is fed, even though the motor continues to run and the drum to rotate.

Soon after the leading edge of the moving folder contacts the adhesive side of the uncut length of tape T', it begins to pass between a pair of sealing rollers 5t and 5i.

The upper sealing roller 59 is carried by a frame 52, which also carries the knife i5, and is impelled downwardly by the spring 53 which acts to impel the frame about a fulcrum 5d.

The lower sealing roller 5| is carried by a curved arm 55 which is xed to the shelf 56 and extends upwardly therefrom within the channel 42.

At about the time that the folder is nipped between the sealing rollers 50 and 5l, the tape is severed by being drawn rearwardly against the fixed knife i8. The sealing rollers press the upper and lower ends of the cut piece of tape into adhesive contact with the upper and lower surfaces, respectively, of the folder.

The sealing of the folder in the manner shown in Figure 7 has then been completed.

Immediately thereafter the suction is automatically shut off from the drum and the sealed folder drops off from the drum onto the sloping shelf 56 and thence onto the stack 51.

Numerous alternatives and changes of form may be employed within the scope of the invention. Some of these have been described above in connection with Figures 1 and 2. Additionally, for example, only one suction aperture 43 in the drum on each side of the channel may be employed instead of a plurality on each side, if desired.

I claim:

1. A normally tacky pressure-sensitive adhesive tape withdrawing and projecting mechanism comprising a pull-off roller for the withdrawal of tape from a supply by peripheral driving connection with the tape, a tape-forming and projecting wheel having a knurled grooved periphery and aligned to permit peripheral contact with the adhesive side of tape that is fed from the pull-off roller, a tape-forming finger adjacent the wheel positioned to bear against the back of the tape to direct the tape into adhesive contact with the periphery of the wheel and to depress the tape into the groove, means for rotating the roller and means for rotating the Wheel.

2. The mechanism of claim 1 in which the periphery of the pull-off roller is knurled.

3. The mechanism of claim 1 in which the groove in the periphery of the Wheel is V-shaped in cross section.

4. The mechanism of claim 3 in which the periphery of the pull-oli roller is knurled.

5. A normally tacky pressure-sensitive adhesive tape withdrawing and projecting mechanism comprising a pull-off roller for the Withdrawal of tape from a supply by peripheral driving connection with the tape, a tape-forming and projecting wheel having a knurled grooved periphery and aligned to permit peripheral contact with the adhesive side of tape that is fed from the pull-off roller, a tape-forming nger extending into the groove to bear against the back of the tape to direct the tape into adhesive contact with the periphery of the wheel and to depress the tape into the groove, and means for rotating the roller and the wheel with the peripheral speed of the roller equal to the peripheral speed of the bottom of the groove.

6. The mechanism of claim 5 in which the periphery of the pull-01T roller is knurled.

7. The mechanism of claim 5 in which the groove in the periphery of the wheel is V-shapcd in cross section.

8. The mechanism of claim 7 in which the periphery of the pull-off roller is knurled.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 684,788 Burbank Oct. 22, 1901 1,672,412 Hitchcock June 5, 1928 1,967,579 Krueger July 24, 1934 1,972,850 McCarthy Sept. 4, 1984 1,972,851 McCarthy Sept. 4, 1984 2,045,046 Mudd June 23, 1936 2,050,457 Ohlsen et al Aug. 11, 1936 2,061,524 Storck Nov. 17, 1938 2,133,868 Morton Oct. 18, 1938 2,382,406 Engberg Aug. 14, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 665,044 France Apr. 30. 1929 

